Cry of the Poor

Pro-democracy protests, first in Tunisia, then Egypt, Bahrain, Iran and today Libya and Yemen. While these places may seem far away, in our global marketplace they are next door. The cry of the poor is being heard ’round the world. People everywhere are realizing that the corporate and social elites who control the global market place are not interested in making opportunities available to everyone. Rather, they are interested in furthering their own short term interests and hijacking (read “stealing”) the assets of society. I say “short term” because in the long term the effects of this strategy are self defeating. How do corporations do this? By externalizing the costs of doing business, taking bailouts and tax cuts. Social elites do this directly by removing a country’s wealth into private accounts. In either case they are taking resources that don’t belong to them.

The reality is that we are all interdependent and interconnected. None of us will really be well in the world until all of us can be well in the world. The economy exists to serve human beings. It doesn’t exist to support an elite few, nor do human beings exist to serve the economy. We are not “human resources” for the economy. Human beings create the economy and we change it everyday. We have a moral obligation to change it in ways that are strategic and serve the common good – the good of all.

The United States plays a key role in the global economy because most multi-nationals are U.S. corporations. Corporations are not human beings. By definition, they are incapable of having morals or ethics. The purpose of our government is not to represent corporations. Our government is charged with furthering the common good of its citizens.

Unfortunately politicians from both parties are supported by corporate interests. Corporate PACS, not those they serve, fund their campaigns and insure their re-elections. The result of this situation is increasing income disparity as politicians pander to the corporate and social elite. This has already caused the Great Recession with massive bankruptcies, unemployment and under employment.

We have already seen how a large income disparity creates corruption, drugs and murder in our neighbor to the south, Mexico. Is this the kind of world we want to live in? If not, we need to start listening. We need to start hearing the cry of the poor.

What can you and I do? Suggestions to follow . . .

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